This is truly exciting my friends, I’ve known this for several weeks and mentioned it once on my Facebook page and I’m now ready to share it with my entire audience—-I’m writing my second book on Abstract Painting! What, you didn’t know I even had a book out? Yes, it’s true! My first solo publication, “Abstracts in Acrylic and Ink” was released in December 2016, which seems like a lifetime ago. It’s way past the time to do my follow-up book.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, I should start with how this all came to be. I’ll give you the moral of the story ahead of time: I encourage you to go after something that you’ve been thinking about but may have been too scared or apprehensive to actually pursue. There’s never going to be a perfect time, but if you want it badly enough, you will find time to make it happen.

Over this last summer, I was chatting with a student who was taking a private class with me. She mentioned I should submit for a grant that is available for artists in NC (and I’m sure there are many others elsewhere). To be honest, it was something I had thought about in the past but I was afraid there was too much competition, and I probably wouldn’t get it. You can talk yourself out of things almost as easy as you can talk yourself into them!

This time around, I felt more open to the idea of entering my application for consideration.

It all started with a few nudges that ironically came to pass with another friend who had previously been awarded the grant. She encouraged me to submit my application and generously gave me some tips on how to write a grant proposal (which I had never done before).

It took me some time to work up the courage and to think about what I would propose to do with the money if I were awarded the grant.

What is it that I truly need help with to move my career to another level?

I need help in a lot of ways, to be honest, but there is only so much money to go around (hahaha). The project that I submitted for my proposal was my sophomore art book on Abstract Painting.

Can you guess what happened? I submitted my application in October and right around the end of November I found out I was one of the recipients of the North Carolina Arts Council Artist Grants award for Region 12!!! My project was funded in December but with the holidays and getting plans in place to do the work required, I’m just getting started with the project as a whole.

**Thank you to the NC Arts Council for funding this dream of mine!!!

Instead of going through a traditional publisher, for this project, I’m going to self-publish my book. Admittedly, there is a lot I need to learn about self-publishing but first things first, I need to write my book first. Where there is a will, there is a way.

I’d love to take you along with me for the ride! I will be posting updates here and on my social media sites throughout this journey. Over the last month, I’ve been ordering supplies that I will need for the work that will be included in the book along with equipment for photographing my work.

I’ve also been plugging away with ideas to incorporate into my book.

My little writing and brain dumping corner

My work right now consists of brain-dumping and going through the countless folders of workshops I’ve taught for nuggets of wisdom and potential projects to update and feature in my book. It’s exciting and to be frank, it’s also a scary venture to be embarking on. Putting your heart and soul into a project and then out into the world makes you feel vulnerable in a way that is hard to explain.

It could be a fear of being judged and no one enjoys that.

In the first book I wrote, I shared a story of how I thought I wasn’t worthy of the opportunity as I was just a beginner at abstract painting. What I learned through the process is that when you have something to share, you bring people along with you who want to be where you are in the journey. And you keep doing that over and over again.

Don’t wait to be a master before you decide it’s time to share your gifts with the world.

It’s the 1 year anniversary (or Birthday) of Sticks and Stones! We are celebrating by taking 50% off the regular price now through 2/3/2024. Do you want to rock and roll with this new course? Click HERE for more info!

And lastly, every no leads to a yes. If you never ask, the answer will always be no. Keep on asking, and you will find a door that opens that’s right for you.

I would like to thank the organization that heads the NC Artist Support Grant, The North Carolina Arts Council. I am so appreciative of this opportunity you’ve afforded me this year. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

That’s all for now my friends. I look forward to sharing the steps I will be taking in this journey over the next several months. I’m sure we both will learn a lot!!

Until Next Time,

Jodi Ohl